Another said there were cases of family members being granted citizenship if they had lodged their application before the changes were announced in April, while others who filed afterwards were told they faced a three-year wait.

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And in light of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull stating he wanted migrants to become "Australian patriots", Bendigo MP Lisa Chesters pointed out to colleagues the word "patriot" had been appropriated by white supremacist groups.

Opposition citizenship spokesman Tony Burke said the government's approach had been "incoherent" and took aim at linking the changes to national security.

"Peter Dutton walks into the Parliament and demands Labor support a document he has not yet written," he said.

"If it's about national security how can it be that it only applies to people who are permanent residents, all of whom are already here."

Tony Burke: "There are two different pathways but when you test them, the standard that they're tested to is the same." Andrew Meares

Mr Turnbull used question time to accuse Labor of being divided.

"If he [Mr Burke] thinks that has got nothing to do with national security, then he totally misunderstands the nature of the threats we face," the PM said.

"I fear many on the other side of the house do not agree with this proposition ... that those who seek to be Australian citizens should clearly demonstrate that they share our values and our integrating in our community."

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Mr Turnbull used his national security statement to Parliament to reiterate laws and practices were constantly reviewed to stay ahead of the terror threat, including pushing technology and telecommunications companies to allow spy agencies to decrypt plotters' secret messages.

David Rowe

Islamic State has purportedly urged its followers to target Western countries, including Australia, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ends on June 24.

"To the brethren of faith and belief in Europe, America, Russia, Australia, and others. Your brothers in your land have done well, so take them as role models and do as they have done," the group's spokesman Abi al-Hassan al-Muhajer is reported as saying on the audio message.

More than 10,000 people poured into the nation's capital on the ninth day of protests over police brutality, but what awaited them was a city that no longer felt as if it was being occupied by its own country's military.